Tool for cutting roots and pulling stumps



April 10, 1956 A. J, WILSON TOOL FOR CUTTING ROOTS AND PULLING STUMPS Filed Jan. 25, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet l ,4 T raR/ver April 10, 1956 A. J. WILSON TOOL FOR CUTTING ROOTS AND PULLING STUMPS Filed Jan. 25, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENTOR. AA/OS Jail WILSON April 10, 1956 A. J. WILSON TOOL FOR CUTTING ROOTS AND PULLING STUMPS Filed Jan. 25, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. fl/VOS JOf'L WILSON 2,741,041 TOOL FOR CUTTING ROOTS AND PULLING STUMPS Anos Joel Wilson, Naval Base, S. C., assignor to Fleet: Corporation, a corporation of Florida Application January 25, 1952, Serial No. 268,315 2 Claims. (Cl. 37-2 This invention relates to apparatus for use in clearing land and more particularly for cutting roots and pulling stumps. It is an apparatus particularly adapted for use with a tractor and an important object is to provide such a device in the form of a ripper, which may remain on the tractor while using the usual dozer blade, the ripper being elevated to an inoperative position while the blade is-in Another object of the invention is to provide a toolof I the character stated which can be used in close quarters and along ditch banks, where it is practically impossible to get behind an object to push it out with the usual dozer blade. Further the usual dozer blade pulls too much earth, where as the present implement displaces very little earth, thus allowing the full power of the machine to be used directly on the Work.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character stated, which is of simple construction, positive acting and not susceptible to'theready development of defects. 7

These and various other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawings: 7

Figure l is a side elevational view of the apparatus in working position, this view also showing the apparatus in broken lines, elevated to an inoperative position.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view looking at the tractor end.

Figure 5 is an end elevational view looking at the tool end of the apparatus.

Figure 6 is a section taken on line 6--6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 7--7 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the tool of the fabricated type.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen, that reference character A generally refers to a conventional tractor provided with a cable control B and an arcuate draw bar C. The present invention is generally referred to by numeral 10 and includes a frame, the rear end of which is of V-shape and denoted by numeral 11. The forward end of the legs of this V-shaped end portion 11 merge with elongated spaced parallel side members 12, 13 which are bridged by an angle bar 14 for brace purposes. The forward ends of the legs of the V-end structure ll'are likewise bridged by an angle stumper bar 15.

The V-shaped end structure 11 and the side members 12, 13 are of box construction, the forward ends having their top and bottom sides removed inwardly to provide ears 16 which are backed by reinforcing plates 17. The cars 16 and the plates 17 have openings for receiving a pivot pin 18, one for each of the side members 12, 13, these pins extending through trunnion arms 19; the forward end portions of which are bifurcated to embrace the draw bar C. These bifurcated ends are reinforced by plates 20, welded or otherwise secured in place and pins 21 extend downwardly through the bifurcated ends of the trunnion arms 19 and the reinforcing plates to secure these ends of the trunnion arms 19 to the draw bar C.

The apparatus further includes a ripper tool generally referred to by numeral 22. This tool is composed of a head 23 which fits into a tail box 24 at the rear end of the V-shaped end portion 11 of the frame and also a shank 25, to the lower end of which a ripper point preferably of manganese steel is secured, this point being denoted by numeral 26. As can be seen in Figure 3,

a reinforcing body 27 is provided for the underside of the portion 11 of the frame, just in front of the tool 22.

Relative to the tool 22, the same is shown as far as the head 23 and the shank are concerned, as being made up of laminations, which are welded or otherwise secured together. However, the shank 25 and the head 23 may be of cast metal. All parts that are to be permanently afiiXed are welded in place.

Upon the V-shaped end portion 11 of the frame is a reinforcing or base plate 28 having risers 29 between which a sheave 30 is supported on a pin 31. Also carried by the pin is a shackle 32, to which one end of the cable line 33 is secured, this cable line extending to the control 11. The tool 22 will be disposed in rear of the stumper bar 15 and at the far end of the V-frame. With the frame and the stumper bar and tool in this position the machine is moved forward causing the point 26 and the shank 25 of the tool 22 to be drawn into the ground at a sufficient depth to bring the stumper bar 15 against the stump adjacent the top thereof. The depth to which the tool 22 is allowed to enter the ground upon the lowering of the frame being governed by the size of the stump and at the discretion of the operator by means of the cable 33. With the stumper bar 15 in a position to engage the stump it is possible to exert great leverage against the stump by the bar 15 to break it loose from the ground, and the spacingbetween the side members 12 and 13 is sufficient and adequate to allow the stumper bar to be moved back and away from the stump so that it may be repeatedly brought into engagement with the stump with the necessary force to dislodge the stump and cause it to be tilted forwardly. This force or weight imposed against the stump by the bar 15 being accomplished by the traction, momentum and pull imparted to the frame and bar by the tractor.

After the stump has been loosened and the top thereof has been pulled forward the bar 15 will slide forwardly over the top of the stump, whereupon the stump will be engaged by the converging portions 11 of the V-frame and the braces 27 to maintain the stump centered with respect to the frame, so that the point 26 and shank 25 of the tool 22 will engage the stump below ground level and cause the stump to be ejected from the ground as the machine and frame continue their forward movement.

The V-shaped end 11 of the frame is so constructed that in the removal of stumps of large diameter or having large lateral roots, which cannot be broken out by the stumper bar 15 and tool 22, the tractor and frame would first be manipulated by pulling the tool 22 close to a stump along the sides thereof thereby cutting the lateral roots which are usually close to the surface of the ground. This is accomplished by making two parallel cuts, one on either side of the stump, then by turning are-1,04 1

the tractor and frame at a'90" angle from the first cuts and then by making two more parallel cuts, one on either side of the stump the tool will cut the brace roots around the stump.

=It-can be seen now, that when the usual =dozer-blade, customarily usedin clearing land, is to be used'alone, the cable 33 and the control boX 'B-ar'e employecLfor lifting the aforedescribed mechanism to the elevated 1. In a tractor drawn land clearing device comprising a frame pivotally connected at its forward end to a tractor for vertical movement, said frame having side members arranged in spaced relation, said side members converging toward each other at their outer ends to provide said frame with a converging portion at the outer end of said frame, a tool supported by said frame at the converging end thereof, said tool extending downwardly from said frame for cutting around said stump and cutting the roots ofsaid stump, a stumper bar mounted on and extending transversally of said converging portion of said frame at the forward end of said converging portion of said frame and in advance of said tool for engaging and loosening'and tilting a stump in a direction toward said tractor, said converging portion of said frame engaging said stump when tilted by said stumper bar for centering the stump in said frame, said tool engaging said stump after the stump Having described the invention what is claimedas new has been loosened and tilted by said stumper bar to remove it from the ground, and means for raising and lowering said frame to position said stumper bar and tool for engagement with said stump in its removal.

2. In a tractor drawn land clearing device comprising a frame pivotally connected at its forward end to a tractor for vertical movement, saidframe having parallel side members arranged in spaced relation, said side members converging toward each other at their outer ends to provide a V-shaped portion, a tool supported at the apex of said converging ends of said side members and extending downwardly therefrom, a stumper bar mounted on said V-shaped portion of said frame at the forward end of the V-shaped portion and arranged in advance of said tool for breaking the stump loose and tilting said stump in a direction toward said tractor prior to said depending tool engaging said stump for removing said stump from the ground, said converging portion of said frame engaging said stump when tilted by said stumper bar for centering the stump in said frame, said tool engaging said stump after it has been loosened by said stumper bar to remove the stump from the ground and means connected to theouter end of said frame for raising and lowering said frame for positioning a stump to be operated on between said side members and for engagement by said stumper bar and toolin removing said stump from the ground.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,396,657 Nissrod Nov. 8, 1921 2,155,715 Knapp Apr; 25,1939

2,302,801 Powelson Nov. 24,1942

2,437,176 Taylor Mar. 2,1948

FOREIGN PATENTS 462,183 Canada Ian. 3, 1950 888,565 France Dec. 16, 1943 

